Sealing machine and method



Oct. 15, 1935. e. w. MULLEN 2,017,766

SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Oct. 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1-.l E": 21 22 3} i Z3 E 16 25 Z j 73 f? 30 17.

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INVENTOR flea ye VI ll! [Z673 Jw'a ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1935. G. w. MULLENSEALING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Oct. 10, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet nv 1 R 3 4 m m m A WM 0 6 5 4* W5 2. 3 z w fl Oct. 15, 1935. G. w; MULLEN2,017,766

SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD Original Filed Oct. 10, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Hum" INVENTOR fieogge Wily/[6m ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 PATENTOFFICE SEALING MACHINE AND METHOD George W. Mullen, Lo

wville, N. Y., assignor to Anchor Cap & Closure Corporation, Long IslandCity, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 10, 1928,Serial No. 311,426 Renewed December 17, 1934 26 Claims.

The present invention relates to the art of sealing closures tocontainers and more particularly to a machine and method forhermetically sealing containers with a partial vacuum therein.

Heretofore it has been customary to utilize expensive machines forvacuum sealing necessitating vacuum pumps. In some instances, the pumpsare integral with sealing machines and in other instances a separatevacuum tank and exhaust pump are used. In both cases, the cost of thesealing equipment is expensive. Frequently defective pumps impair thevacuum resulting in losses where vacuum seals are necessary.

Due to the complicated machines necessary for vacuum sealing, somepackers go to the trouble of heating the contents of the packages beforesealingin order to get a partial vacuum therein. The containers passthrough and remain in a water bath for a substantial period of time inorder to permit the contents to reach a substantial temperature. Thismethod can only be used for products requiring a low vacuum and eventhen it is very unsatisfactory. The reason is that the contents cool,particularly the air space in the container during the interval whilethe container is being removed from the bath to the sealing machine.Further, the containers must be handled hot, which is veryobjectionable. Another fatal handicap is that production is materiallyreduced on account of the heating operation. The operators in an effortto speed up production, frequently cut down the period that thecontainers remain in the bath, and a very low vacuum results whichoccasions losses.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of prior artstructures by providing a very simple machine and method which willeffectively produce a high vacuum without necessitating pre-heating thecontents or using mechanical pumps.

An object of the invention is to simplify the present method andapparatus for sealing products under a vacuum.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate complicated machinerythereby to reduce the cost of manufacture; and to increase the speed ofproduction in packing plants by eliminating the necessity for heatingthe contents of packages to produce a partial vacuum therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide an effective method andmachine readily applicable to present packers equipment for sealingcontainers under a vacuum without heating the contents and withoututilizing complicated .pumping mechanisms.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon anunderstanding of the illustrated embodiment about to be described, orwill be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages notreferred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employmentof the invention in practice.

Described generally, the above objects may be attained by a machineadapted to hold for an instant, a container and cover spaced slightlyfrom each other and during this time to direct a jet of steam into themouth of the container to displace the air therein. The jet of steam inaddi tion to displacing the air also heats up the cap and the uppersurface of the contents of the container giving a very high vacuum andsterilizes these parts to a considerable extent prior to the sealingoperation. Preferably, the packages are presented to the sealing headwith the caps thereon, and raised upwardly until the caps are en- 2gaged by resilient means associated with the sealing head after whichthe container is lowered slightly to separate it from the cap. At thispoint, a jet of steam is directed between the cap and the container todisplace the air. The container is again raised to sealing position andthe sealing operation eflected. In some cases, it is more practical tofeed the containers and caps separately, in which case steam may bepassed over the open end of the container at the time of placing the capon the container to displace the air and sterilize the product.Immediately thereafter, the container is moved to the sealing positionfor the sealing operation. Suitable drains may be utilized for removingthe condensate and 3.", suitable mechanisms may be utilized to maintainthe steam in a superheated state to avoid the condensate collecting uponparts of the package.

A preferred embodiment of the invention, which demonstrates one way ofpracticing the method. has been chosen for purposes of illustration anddescription and is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein v Fig. 1is a side elevational view, partly in section, of apart of a machineillustrating an embodiment of the present invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the sealing head as the sealing operationis completed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken in a direction diagonal to that of Fig.1 illustrating features of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of a spinning mechanism for sealingcontainers, illustrating the application of the invention thereto;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the appll- 5 cation of theinvention to a sealing machine for cans where the caps and containersare fed sep arately; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a cam member for operating themeans for presenting the containers to the sealing machine.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1,

2, and 3, the present invention is shown applied to a machine forsealing closures to glass containers. Since the details of the machineare not a part of this invention only those portions are shown, whichrelate particularly to the sealing mechanism. A table I, supported bylegs 2, is provided for the vessels with a seat in form of a piston 4extending through a suitable aperture 5 at the center of thetableadapted to move a vessel 6 to and from sealing position. A cam I, bymeans of the cam roller 8 and rod 9, positions the container in timedrelation to the sealing mechanism. Preferably, the seat 4 is resilientlyretained in position by means of a spring I which eliminates thenecessity for accurate adjustment of the table.

The sealing mechanism may comprise a hollow casting ll having an upperdie l2 attached to the central portion thereof with its lower end shapedto fit about the upper part of a closure cap l4. A plurality of sealingjaws I 5, preferably four in number, are adapted to cooperate with theup-- per die l2 to efiect the seal on the receptacle. These jaws l arepivotally attached by means of the pins l3 to a member it which in turnis suspended within the casting ll by a pair of rods l1. These rods arereciprocated in a vertical direction by a suitable source of power whichmay be connected to the rod l3 to oscillate an arm l9 about a suitablepivot to raise the bifurcated portions 20. The latter are-connectedthrough pin 2| and links 22 to the rods l1.

The rods l1 and the jaws l5 are shown in their lowermost position inFig. 1. .When raised upwardly, the outer surfaces of the jaw engage a'ring 24 which acts as a cam to force the jaws inwardly into sealingengagement with the bead of the cap as shown in Fig. 2. Suitable springs25 retain the jaws normally in their ineffective position. The mechanismso far described will seal caps to containers-but no vacuum will be-more particularly --in Fig. 3. As thejawsv move, upwardly to seal .theclosure, thev member l6.

moves upwardly also; and hence the spring fingers are moved to theposition shown in Fig.2

with the ends thereof above thecylindrical sur-jv face 29 of the upperdie.

In other words, the spring fingers move out of the way of the sealingjaws to permit. them'to effect the sealing operation. When .the sealingjaws are moved to their downward position again','

the ends 28 of the springs 26 slide on the inclined surface of the upperdie down over the cylindrical other cap. Y A steam conduit 30 extendsthrough the casting I I and is adapted to direct a jet of steam in:-

termediate two of the sealing laws 15. As shown in Fig. 1, a three-wayvalve 3l'controls the flow of steam and is operated through an arm 32and rod 34 operatively connected to a suitable cam which is driven intimed relation to the cam 1., 5

Preferably, the steam is superheated to avoid condensation and may bepermitted to run continuously for the same purpose. During the periodthat the steam is cut off from the sealing head, the valve 3| permits aflow of steam through a pipe 35 so that there will be no accumulation ofwater when steam is again directed into the sealing head II. In order todrain the condensate from the parts of the machine, there is provided acasting 35 beneath the sealing head adapted. to catch the drip andconduct it to a drain pipe 31.

In the operation of the device, the container 6 is placed on the seat 4and the cam l operates to raise the container with a cap l4 thereonuntil the top of the cap fits within the recess in the upper sealingdie. In reaching this position, the cap moves through the spring fingers28 and is retained by these within the upper sealing die. The cam I thenlowers the seat 4 to the position shown in Fig. 3, where the cap andcontainer are 26 separated slightly. At this point, the valve 3| isoperated to introduce steam through the conduit 30, the path of thesteam being between a pair of jaws, on one side of the sealing head,over the top of the receptacle and under the closure, as

, shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3, out through the drain pipe 31.While the steam is being injected, the cam 1' moves the vessel upwardlyto the sealing position as shown in Fig. 2 and the sealing operation iseffected by means of the upward movement of the rods II, pulling thejaws l5 upwardly into engagement with the cap. The outer surface'of thejaws is such that the ring 24 exerts a cam action to press them inwardlyinto their proper position to effect the sealing opera- 40 tion as thejaws are moved upwardly (see Fig. 2). The pipe 21 removes the condensatewhich collects in the casting 36. The steam may continue to flow intothe sealing head, throughout the sealing operation, but it is usuallysuflicient if sup- I plied until the jar reaches the closure. In fact.

, very excellent results may be obtained with a shorter period ofemission.

The steam fills the space about the upper end of the container anddisplaces the air creating a very high vacuum. In addition, itstemperature is such that it helps to sterilize the upper part of thereceptacle and the closure cap. The steam, being permitted to runcontinuously, is in a vaporous state when it reaches the receptacle andthere is practically no condensation and no water left within thereceptacle, hence it may be used with any type of product. 7

In Fig.4 the invention is illustrated as applied to a spinning headmachine for sealing closure caps. Described generally, the mechanismcompri ses a casting 40 within which an upper rotating die 4] is mountedto move upwardly and downwardly as shown by the arrows. Adjacent die,there is provided a roller 42 which moves inwardly and outwardly toeffect thesealing of the closure to the container. The movement oftheroller is controlled by the member 44. In

order to simplify the drawings and to avoid confusion, the'mechanismconnecting the roller 42 surface as shown in Fig. 3 ready to receive an-7 and member 44 is not shown herein but its general construction may befound in Patent No.

1,605,954.!11re lower part of the casting u 1 through which thereceptacle is raised is provided with a plurality of spring members 45,preferably four in number located ninety degrees apart.

In the operation of the device, the receptacle 6 with a closure I4thereon is raised upwardly to a point where it is engaged by the springs45 and held by these. Thereafter the vessel is moved downwardly by a caml to the position shown in Fig. 4 at which time steam is introducedthrough the pipe 30 as described hereinbefore and passes over the top ofthe receptacle just below the closure. The cam 1 then moves thereceptacle upwardly until it engages the cap and moves toward the die 4|whichin turn moves downwardly to effect the sealing operation.

In Fig. the invention is shown applied to a mechanism for sealing canswhere the covers are fed separately.from the containers. As shown, thecovers are fed in from the right through a passageway 48 to a point justbelow the die 49 and just over an aperture 50 through which a can 5| isadapted to be moved. A pair of spinning rollers 52 are adapted to sealthe closure to the can.

In the operation of the device the closures are fed through thepassageway 48 until they are positioned between the cap and the uppersealing die. Thereafter the can 5| is moved upwardly and when it reachesa point spaced slightly from the closure cap, a jet of steam is emittedthrough the pipe 30 to pass over the can and to displace the airtherein, after which the can moves up to engage the closure and press itagainst the upper sealing die so that it may be operated upon by therollers 52 and properly sealed to the container. A casting 54 may beprovided to catch the condensate and to run it 011 through a conduit 55.If desired, the can may be moved directly upward until it is engaged bythe upper die. The injection of the steam is suflicient to create avacuum in a very short period of time. Naturally, if the upward movementof the can is stopped at the time it is subjected to steam, betterresults may be obtained.

It will be seen that the present invention is readily applicable toexisting commercial machines and that it may be applied to these with aminimum of trouble and expense. Further, it is simple in constructionand operation, and readily constructed from commercial parts. Iteliminates the necessity for vacuum pumps and other complicatedequipment. The results are certain because they are not dependent upon aclosed chamber; as long as steam flows through the conduit, over thecontainer at the proper time, excellent results are obtained. Further,the device is rugged in construction and fully capable of withstandingthe rough usage to which it may be subjected.

While steam is the preferred heating medium, it is clear that otherfluids may be utilized with excellent results. As various other changesmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and withoutsacrificing its advantages, it is to be understood that all matterherein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. The method of sealing containers which comprises presenting acontainer to a sealing mechanism, supporting a closure cap, moving thecontainer away from the sealing mechanism to space the cap from thecontainer throughout its periphery, injecting a hot fluid between thecap and container to partially remove the air therefrom and thereaftersealing the cap to the container.

2. The method of vacuum sealing which comprises presenting a containerwith a closure thereon for the sealing operation, moving the containerslightly away from the sealing position while maintaining the cap in itssealing position, directing a jet of steam between the separated cap andcontainer and thereafter sealing the cap on the container.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sealingmechanism, means for elevating a container into its sealing position,means for directing a jet of hot fluid into and across the top of thecontainer prior to the sealing operation, and means associated with saidsealing mechanism for collecting the resulting condensate of the fluid.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sealingmechanism, means associated with said sealing mechanism for engaging andremoving a cap from a container, means for raising a container towardsits sealing position, a cam member for operating said means, said cammember being efiective to raise the container whereby the cap is removedby said engaging means, said cam member being also effective to lowerthe container 3. short distance and thereafter adapted to again raisethe container to present it to said sealing mechanism,

and means for directing a jet of hot fluid over the upper end of thecontainer to produce a vacuum after the container has been lowered andthe cap has been separated therefrom.

5. The method of vacuum sealing which comprises presenting a containerto a sealing mech anism, holding the container and closure cap spacedfrom each other, injecting a hot fluid between the cap and container toprovide an atmosphere of hot fluid above the upper end of the containerand sealing the cap to the container in said atmosphere of hot fluidwhile said fluid is being injected.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of means forraising a container with a cap thereon into sealing position and forlowering said container, devices for engaging the cap prior to thelowering of the container, and mechanism for injecting steam about theupper end of said container while said cap and said container areseparated to provide a partial vacuum above the contents of thecontainer.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sealinghead, a plurality of rollers associated with said head adapted to reformthe skirt of a cap resilient means associated with said head, devicesfor raising a container with a closure thereon into operative relationto said resilient means and for lowering said container to separate saidclosure and said container prior to the sealing operation and means forcreating a partial vacuum about the container.

8. In a sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing head, means insaid sealing head for engaging a cap, devices for raising the containerwith a cap thereon into operative relation with said engaging means andfor lowering said container, devices for introducing a vapor in thespace about the upper end of said container, and mechanism for raisingsaid means upon the operation of the sealing mechanism.

9. In a sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing head, means forraising a container to sealing position, devices for directing a jet ofsteam across the upper end of said container prior to the sealingoperation, and means for draining the condensate from the sealing head.10. In a sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing head comprisingan upper member for engaging the upper side of the cap and sealing jawsfor forming a seal, means associatedwith said upper member, devices forraising the container with a cap thereon until the cap en gages saidupper member and is held in-position into sealing position, said sealinghead being provided with means for removing a cap from a container whensaid raising means are effective and devices connected to said sealinghead for directing a jet of hot fluid across the upper end of saidcontainer prior to the sealing operation.

12. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sealinghead, means associated with said head for engaging and holding a cap,dew vices for bringing a container with a cap thereon into operativerelation to said means, mechanism for lowering said container toseparate said cap' and said container, and devices for introducing steamabout the upper end of the container.

13. The method of sealing containers which comprises moving a containerhaving a cap thereon under a sealing head, removing the cap from thecontainer, maintaining the cap spaced from the container throughout itsperiphery, subjecting the upper portion of the container to an at-.mosphere of steam to displace the air and thereafter sealing the cap onthe container while in said atmosphere of steam.

14. The method of vacuum sealing which comprises presenting a containerwith a closure thereon to be sealed, separating the cap from saidcontainer, creating an atmosphere of steam between the cap andcontainer, said atmosphere of steam being efiective about the entireperiphery thereof, and thereafter sealing the cap on the container whilesubjected to said steam.

15. In a device of the class described, the combination of a sealinghead for sealing closure caps to containers, means for presenting asubstantially filled container with a closure cap thereon to the sealinghead, devices for engaging the closure cap, said means being adapted tolower said container and means for creating an atmosphere of vapor aboutthe unfilled portion of the container when said lowering means areeifective.

16. In a device of the class described, the combeing adapted to separatethe cap from said container, and means for creating an atmosphere ofvapor about the upper end of the container while said first means areeffective.

17. In a sealing mechanism, the combination of a sealing head, devicesassociated with said prises presenting a container to a sealingmechanism, holding the container and closure cap spaced from each other,injecting a hot vapor between the cap and container to provide anatmosphere of hot vapor above the upper end of the 5 container, sealingthe cap to the container in said atmosphere of hot vapor while saidvapor is being injected, and collecting the resulting condensate of saidvapor.

19. The method of vacuum sealing containers, 10 which comprisespresenting a container having a cap thereon to a sealing mechanism,enclosing only the upper end of the container within a sealing chamber,spacing the cap from the container, subjecting the container momentarilyto 15 an atmosphere of steam and sealing the cap to the container insaid atmosphere of steam, while said steam is effective.

20. The method of sealing containers which comprises presenting acontainer having a closure 20 thereon to a sealing mechanism, moving thecontainer downwardly to separate the closure and the container,injecting superheated steam between the closure and the container topartially remove the air therefrom and thereafter sealing 25 the cap tothe container.

21. The method of vacuum sealing which comprises presenting a containerto a sealing mechani m, creating 'an atmosphere of steam at andsubstantiallyabove the upper end of the container 30 while a cap forsealing the container is out of sealing position with respect to thecontainer, moving the container into engagement with the cap while insaid atmosphere of steam and sealing the cap to the container while thecontainer 35 is subjected to said atmosphere of steam.

22. The method of vacuum sealing, which comprises moving a containerinto a chamber, creating an atmosphere of steam about and above the openend of the container, moving a container 40 into engagement with a capto apply the cap to the open end of the container, injecting steam overthe open end of the container between the cap and container,simultaneously with the application of the cap, and sealing the cap tothe container while in said atmosphere of steam.

23. The method of vacuum sealing, which comprises moving a containerinto a chamber, creat- .ng an atmosphere of steam about and 'above theupper end of the container, moving the con-. tainer into engagement withthe cap to apply the cap to the container in the chamber, causing a jetof steam to impinge on the cap and on the upper end of the containersimultaneously with the application of the cap thereto, continuing themovement of the container with the cap applied thereto to bring the capinto engagement with a sealing mechanism, and sealing the cap to thecontainer while in said atmosphere of steam.

24. The method of sealing containers which method comprises moving acontainer into a chamber which extends upwardly a substantial distancefrom the upper end of the container, creating an atmosphere of steam insaid chamber, applying a cap to the container and simultaneouslydirecting steam between the capand upper end of the container, andsealing the cap on the container while the container is in said chamberand is subjected to said atmosphere of steam.

25. The method of vacuum sealing containers which method comprises,supporting a closure in a steam chamber, moving the upper end of acontainer into engagement with the closure to apply the closurethereto,directing a jet of steam about 15 the upper end of the container duringthe applia cap to the upper end of a container while in cation of theclosure, and thereafter sealing the said chamber, means for directingvapor or steam closure to the container in the atmosphere of between thecap and the upper end of the consteam in said steam chamber. tainerduring the application of the cap, and

5 26. In a device of the class described, the commeans in said chamberfor sealing the cap on the 5 bination of a chamber adapted to extendabove container.

the upper end of a container, means for applying GEORGE W. MULLEN.

